From www.movingmelbourne.com.au

Thursday, 5 December, 2002 : Changes to Station as Melbourne Central Redevelopment commences

Construction works at Melbourne Central will commence on Friday 6 December paving the way for a new look Melbourne Central railway station concourse area.

Customer information will be conveyed through station and train announcements, directional signage and general information posters throughout the redevelopment of Melbourne Central.

Immediate changes will see the redirection of customers to the station entrances at Elizabeth and Swanston Streets as stage one of construction will see the closure of the Latrobe Street entrances.

Stage two and three will see redevelopment works in the region of the Swanston Street entrance and works to reopen MacIntyre Lane.

M>Train General Manager, Mr Michael Bailey, said, “M>Train is committed to keeping customers up to date on developments during the construction works. This will assist in the continued smooth flow of customers in and around Melbourne Central station.

“While the construction works will temporarily alter access routes to the station, the outcome of the works will deliver customer commuter benefits through the delivery of convenient new service outlets in close proximity to the station,” said Mr Bailey.

The first stage of construction links and expands Melbourne Central railway station concourse across to the lower level of the Lonsdale Street building – a section of this space is currently occupied by Toys “R” Us who depart the centre in January 2003 following an agreed lease termination. The exit of Toys “R” Us allows the railway station, which is one of the state’s busiest, to be ‘unlocked’.

The development will create a new lower ground mall spanning two city blocks from Lonsdale Street across to Latrobe Street incorporating a fresh food precinct featuring a new Coles Express Supermarket, together with essential services for customers and city residents.

The transformation of Melbourne Central is anticipated to be completed at the end of 2004. Melbourne Central will continue to trade during its extensive redevelopment. The owner of Melbourne Central is General Property Trust (GPT) and works are being undertaken by project managers Bovis Lend Lease.

http://www.movingmelbourne.com.au/companyinfo_mediatemp.shtml?site=CompanyInformation&MediaCode=Melbourne%20Central%20work
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Lets hope they do the redevolpment properly, and do up the station platforms as well.

I hope they also leave provisions for the proposed new

I think the redevelopment will be amazing, but I think they should leave the station as it is. All 3 underground stations should be on the Victorian Heritage Register and preserved.

Melbourne Central Station is bright and works very very well. The only thing it needs is a lot more shops facing the concourse and links to other areas nearby under our city streets like RMIT and QV. Now wouldn't that be great?

Why should MelCen station be heritage listed? It's not as if it's of cultural significance, or very old. The only problem is no more Toys 'R' Us! :(

They need to do up the first level of the station. Its very dull and run down.

Parliament is my favourite Melb subway station!

I hope Melb Central isn;t a failure and works quite well. If it is a sucess, all we need is a few tall buildings near Swanston Street to get rid of the "gap"!

Originally posted by Hypernovean
Why should MelCen station be heritage listed? It's not as if it's of cultural significance, or very old. The only problem is no more Toys 'R' Us! :(

Age does not automatically mean that its of heritage significance. The Victorian Arts Centre is on the Victorian Heritage Register.

All 3 underground stations represent a development period in Melbourne where public transport was seen as being very important. The loop took away some of the pedestrian traffic from Flinders Street station and made Melburnians move around the CBD in a different way. The stations represent a style of architecture unique in Australi for that period of time. The only similar stations are the Bondi Junction line in Sydney, built a few years earlier.

If I sat down, I could write a more detailed and better statement of significance.

Okay, I'll take your word on it. :D

schwing! :D

tips for next in the retail sector: Galleria @ 385 Bourke St. :D

(spaz originally found some info about it :?)

tays

Bates Smart is working on Galleria. A friend of mine who just left BS was working on the revap of the centre. It should be interesting!

good stuff, I'm also interested to see how retail competition pans out post 2005, with a new Melbourne Central (?), a brank spanking new QV, Galleria & undoubtedly smaller "strips" - it might just turn out to be a shitfight between the retailers! hah!

tays

I realise this is an old thread and the following announcement is of November last year, I thought people might be interested. Also, I remember that there was talk about a 75m tower in the new development? Does anyone have any renders and drawings of the proposal?



GPT COMMENCES MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT
AT MELBOURNE CENTRAL

20 November 2002



Construction on the major redevelopment of the 58,000 sqm retail centre at GPT's Melbourne Central will commence later this month and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2004.

The commencement of construction follows GPT management's success in achieving several conditions precedent, including authority approvals, agreement on the commercial terms of the acquisition of land on the railway concourse and heads of agreement with a number of key retailers.

Mr Nic Lyons, CEO of GPT said that he was pleased to announce all major conditions precedent had been met within such a short timeframe and that the development would now proceed as planned.

"This is a very exciting development for GPT and represents another great opportunity to enhance earnings growth for our unitholders through the extensive development pipeline that exists in GPT's $3.1 billion Retail Portfolio.

"GPT management is always conscious of the need to balance the risks in any development and had therefore set a number of key conditions precedent for the development before commencing construction. These conditions have now been met.

"Over the last six months we have also further enhanced the retail plan, making final changes to the scope of the project and the retail offer," Mr Lyons said.

Following an agreed lease termination with Toys R Us, the lower ground mall will be extended through the existing Toys R Us space to link the railway concourse with Lonsdale Street. This will allow the creation of additional specialty space on the lower ground level.

In addition, the enhanced plan includes a 12-screen cinema complex, making the Melbourne Central cinema offer the dominant offer in the Melbourne CBD. Hoyts will lease the new 'state of the art' cinema complex.

"While the increased scope has increased the total cost to $226.5 million, the projected year 1 yield remains at the previously stated forecast of 8.5%," Mr Lyons said.

Mark Fookes, General Manager Retail Investment said, "We have put significant effort into achieving an innovative design which will meet the Melbourne market and have been extremely pleased with the response from retailers. Although we are yet to start construction or a formal leasing campaign, the plan has elicited strong interest from retailers and we already have 27% of the total retail space committed."

"The proposed design is unique, and incorporates the findings of extensive research into the retail, recreational and community needs of Melbourne. The end product will be a retail and lifestyle concept that transforms an inward facing shopping centre into an outward retail experience and incorporates some of the distinctive characteristics of Melbourne.

"The changes to the centre are designed to further enhance Melbourne Central's appeal and performance, and ensure that we continue to maximise returns to GPT's investors from this landmark asset." Mr Fookes said.

GPT is in advanced discussions with large format music, electrical and book retailers. Catalyst fashion retailers such as Kookai, Max & Co., De Cjuba, Mooks and Calibre have committed to the development and will provide an excellent platform for future leasing of the remaining specialty space.

Substantial interest has also been shown in the entertainment, leisure and gourmet aspects of the development. Upon completion, "King Pin", a bowling and entertainment venue will complement the cinema complex on Level 3. This level will also include "Fez Bar" (a Moroccan Lounge) and "Sushi Samba" a Japanese sake martini bar.

Additional Information: Melbourne Central Shopping Centre

Overview:

Major repositioning will secure market opportunities and long-term investment returns.
The repositioning will appeal to growth markets and effectively leverage the benefits of linkages to the railway station and Myer.
The proposal maximises the site's potential for mixed-use development.
The retail plan has been further developed to incorporate new retail concepts as well as enhanced leisure and entertainment.

Retail Plan

The entire retail complex will be enhanced by:

Replacing the Daimaru department store with additional mini-majors and specialties
Increasing the number of specialties
Introducing a new leisure and entertainment precinct on the upper levels
Improving the connections through to Myer, via the addition of retail space to 'activate' the bridgelinks through the addition of retail space
Introducing a new lower ground level, which maximises the benefit of links to the railway station.



Lettable Area:


Tenant Type* GLA (sqm)

Majors, Mini-majors 24,733
Large Specialties 5,637
Small Specialties 26,263
Non Retail 1,377
TOTAL 58,010

* Definitions: Majors/Mini-Majors ? represent tenancies exceeding 1,000m2
Large Specialties ? represent tenancies 400m2 to 1,000m2
Non Retail ? represent non sales reporting retailers, office, travel and tattslotto.


Number of Tenancies:


Tenant Type Number

Majors, Mini-majors 18
Large Specialties 9
Small Specialties 239
Non Retail 29
TOTAL 295


Leasing Progress


Significant leasing success has been achieved to date; with 27% of total retail GLA already committed. The Level 3 entertainment precinct has progressed well, and 40% of this space is now committed.

The leasing program does not formally commence until 2003, however heads of agreement have been reached with a number of key tenants including:

Coles Express, which will operate the supermarket anchoring the lower concourse level.
Hoyts Cinemas will create a new 'state of the art' 12 screen cinema complex on the upper levels.
Several 'catalyst' fashion operators, which will anchor the fashion offer, including:
o Mooks ? a unisex urban-wear fashion retailer
o Kookai ? young women's fashion
o De Cjuba ? unisex designer clothing
o Calibre ? designer menswear
o Max & Co - designer women's clothing from the Max Mara Group.
Several Café/restaurant and entertainment operators, including:
o King Pin ? a bowling and entertainment venue
o Fez Bar ? a Moroccan Lounge
o Sushi Samba ? Japanese sake martini bar
o Two restaurants and a three-level bar to be operated by Nick Zampelis (of Café Greco and The Waterfront at Crown Casino).

Project Commerce

Assumptions

The works, which will be part of a staged program, will commence in November 2002 and be complete at the end of 2004.


Key Indicators

Original proposal Current plan
Incremental Development Cost $195.0m $226.5m
Incremental Net Income* $16.5m $19.3m
Initial Yield (Year 1)** 8.5% 8.5%
Centre IRR (post completion) 11%+ 11%+

*Includes $2 million (original) and $2.3 million (current) residual from Daimaru surrender payment
**Year 1 is calendar year to December 2005

i spoke to a shopkeeper and they said stores will move

around the development when it is going on

QV & Melbourne Central alone in 2005 will be enough to make many people want to live that ultra-urban lifestyle where everything is a very short distance!......

Concept Blue, one block East
Verve & other PDG developements (Franklin Lofts) etc one Block north
Wills development, Republic, Elm 2 blocks west
Docklands ~5 - 6 blocks West

imagine the potential for residential development...

if I were to live in the CBD or just outside of it, I know the area I'd want to live in (services and transport wise)!!

thanks for the articles joed!

tays

I was also speaking with a retailer on the first floor and they said they were closing that entire floor for renovations.

Ages ago there was also talk about linking the basement level (were Toys'R'us currently is) with Myer as well as with the train station.

Melbourne Central's railway concourse is very typical Japanese subway station in layout. After all, wasn't it built in conjunction with a Japanese construction company (and i don't mean the architect Kurokawa)?

...oh, and it is Hoyts who will be operating the cinemas. Guess they will close their City Centre complex when it finally opens.....maybe not.

Melbourne Central will have a "captured market" with so many new residents in the area by 2005.

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Hypernovean </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Why should MelCen station be heritage listed? It's not as if it's of cultural significance, or very old. The only problem is no more Toys 'R' Us! :(</td></tr>
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Maybe Toys R Us should be on the Victorian Heritage list?

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>good stuff, I'm also interested to see how retail competition pans out post 2005, with a new Melbourne Central (?), a brank spanking new QV, Galleria & undoubtedly smaller "strips" - it might just turn out to be a shitfight between the retailers! hah!

tays</td></tr>
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Note also the completion of the first stage of Royal Arcade's refurb! Oldest shopping arcade in Aust.

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by museumb </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Melbourne Central's railway concourse is very typical Japanese subway station in layout. After all, wasn't it built in conjunction with a Japanese construction company (and i don't mean the architect Kurokawa)?

...oh, and it is Hoyts who will be operating the cinemas. Guess they will close their City Centre complex when it finally opens.....maybe not.

Melbourne Central will have a "captured market" with so many new residents in the area by 2005.</td></tr>
</table>
I think construction of MC was by Kumagai Gumi (?).

So Hoyts is moving into MC but no joint facility between Lesser Union and Village? ugh.

Close Lesser Union! Btw, Village Doncaster is getting a revamp with 10 state of the art cinemas including all new seating never before seen!

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Close Lesser Union! Btw, Village Doncaster is getting a revamp with 10 state of the art cinemas including all new seating never before seen!</td></tr>
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hahaha "NEVER BEFORE SEEN SEATING"!! cant wait to see this

oh and im glad about those cinemas getting re-done. theyre really run-down inside. the nearest decent cinema in my opinion to there is the rivoli all the way over in camberwell

When I went to Melbourne in Oct, I got friggin nausea from those bloody looooong and steeeeeeeepp escalators at Melb Central Station.
Anyone got any pics of the development.

I think you're thinking of Parliament Station ;)

Melbourne Central Station isn't that far underground, Parliament is due to security reasons (I think) as it's right under Parliament's steps!

tays

@ BlabbyBoy. Yes, just checked and it was Kumagai Gumi. So with the heavy Japanese involvement, it is not surprising that MC Station's concourse reminds me of subway station layouts in Tokyo.

From The Age, 26/09/01:

"Kumagai spent $1.2 billion on the Melbourne Central development in the late 1980s but sold it to GPT for only $425 million two years ago."

Full article @ http://www.theage.com.au/business/2001/09/26/FFXVADAL0SC.html

I think they also owned parts of MC for ages, didn't they? They sold it for a lower value in the mid 90s. I'm just going by memory now.

Is anyone interested in early designs, pics etc of Melbourne Central? I have a large collection at work that I will scan, but I need someone to host them for me!!!

Can anyone help???

I remember when it first opened that had a massive Lego Land exhibition in the area that is now the Swanston Street Food Court and Centre Management.

Aussie Steve, send them to me again, I'll host.

cheers

tays

yeah, they closed the elizabeth st entrance to Melb Central station yesterday evening so it seems like it is full steam ahead for the redevelopment. Also all the shops on the first floor (and what seems like also the second floor) near the shot tower are being closed and having closing-down sales. Don't know if they'll return or not.

I was also there on the weekend, the place is pretty empty (around the shot tower atrium). Does anyone know who the architects are for the renovation?

Sorry, accidentally posted twice!

I was under the impression that the station was there a long long time before the Melbourne Central development, back when it was called Museum, and as such, its design had nothing to do with the Melbourne Central development???

I remember going thru that station to the old museum (which has now been relocated to the new museum in Carlton) when I was a little kid :D

i hope they leave the internet cafe there as i need it!!!!!

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by BraddyBoy </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>I was under the impression that the station was there a long long time before the Melbourne Central development, back when it was called Museum, and as such, its design had nothing to do with the Melbourne Central development???

I remember going thru that station to the old museum (which has now been relocated to the new museum in Carlton) when I was a little kid :D</td></tr>
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yep, it was there about 10 - 15 years before the Shopping Centre was constructed - the redevelopment, I've read and has been discussed on here bofre (I think), is going to centre around bringing back the "lanes" around the area.... I want to go back to the DOI and request to see the full plans for the development, this is probably the most "frustrating" development as not many people know what it actually will be like!

tays

That would be good if you can Tays. When I first heard about the redevelopment i tried calling different people about the project, but everyone I talked to told me to call someone else. So I gave up in the end. I've also tried contacting the owners via email, but don't get anywhere (usually don't get a reply). Typical!

If you can see some plans etc take heaps of photo's (I'm sure you will).


James.

The shot tower plaza is closed off, and gutting is underway! Is anyone concerned about the number of proposed supermarkets in the area? Mebourne central, QV, Verve 501...

Blue

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>The shot tower plaza is closed off, and gutting is underway! Is anyone concerned about the number of proposed supermarkets in the area? Mebourne central, QV, Verve 501...

Blue</td></tr>
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Shiza not me!! Thats for sure!! Currently I have to walk at least 4 1/2 blocks to bloody Coles Express on Elizabeth near Flinders :( to get to a half decent supermarket.

They will be very busy trust me.. as long as at least one of them is 'half decent' and not a bloody glorified 7-Eleven !!!

Just saw the latest plans for Melbourne Central and all I can say is WOW!!!!

You guys will have to wait and see the display that should be up somewhere in MC in the next few weeks. The whole interior is going to be gutted, 2 - 3 stories added to the corner of Swanston & La Trobe Sts for the cinemas, a new glass roof over the Lonsdale Street building, a new in-fill building at the corner of Little Lonsdale & Elizabeth Sts and another on the corner of Elizabeth & La Trobe Sts, the glass bubble bridge on Little Lonsdale St etc. It will be very very modern, nothing like what you see now. More red, brown, yellow, black, purple and dark colors. Very city, very naughty "2000ish"

I was in M.C. station getting a concession card done the other day and completely forgot they'd already started doing stuff to the station - took me completely by surprise!

Where'd you see the plans Steve ? And display ? schweet ? :D

tays

Yeah sounds awesome!! Glad the bubble bridge is staying!

I went in today to buy a pair of sunnies and holy shiza !! The main atrium is completely off limits!! Peeking it it looks like a demolision zone!! Floors being ripped up etc..

So yeah its definately on for young and old now at MC !

Any timeframe for completion?? Should be line ball with QV !

Can't wait.

So who are the architects for the project?

ARM are the architects redesigning both the interior and the exterior of the building. A friend of mine came over for dinner last night with a few plans he has been working on for the development.

He also told me that there is a bit of friction between QV & MC. It seems as though retail outlets keep jumping Swanston Street to get the best possible deal in terms of floor space, design and cost.

Big W and Safeway will be in QV, but Coles will be at MC. There are still a few majors areas in MC still to be filled, but i am certain it will happen.

With regards to the display, I suggested this to my friend 2 weeks ago and he took it to a meeting and I think they thought it was a good idea and they will put "something" together soon.

if theres more floors added to the swanston/latrobe corner, wont they get in the way of the glass cone ?

but i am liking the sound of this revelopment. too bad ill probably be finished uni by the time its done

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Aussie Steve </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>ARM are the architects redesigning both the interior and the exterior of the building. A friend of mine came over for dinner last night with a few plans he has been working on for the development.

He also told me that there is a bit of friction between QV & MC. It seems as though retail outlets keep jumping Swanston Street to get the best possible deal in terms of floor space, design and cost.

Big W and Safeway will be in QV, but Coles will be at MC. There are still a few majors areas in MC still to be filled, but i am certain it will happen.

With regards to the display, I suggested this to my friend 2 weeks ago and he took it to a meeting and I think they thought it was a good idea and they will put "something" together soon.</td></tr>
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This is sounding VERY EXCITING!!! The big supermarkets in the city (as you said, not glorified 7-Elevens) will be FANTASTIC! And the competition with QV is also very exciting!!! All the things you said about the plans you saw...sounds like a real ARM revolution!!! Gotta love ARM!

Wow, we really need to find out what the hell they're doing with Melbourne Central. I work in the tower and the whole foyer/entrance is getting a re-work. The workers said they were putting in a new storey and linking to the shopping centre! That is lower the ceiling and create a new floor above your head when you walk in. I really need to see a pic of what they have in mind 'cos I can't see it working. :?

sounds good
melb central was in need of an upgrade
is the roof thing staying ?

hopefully this will go towards making the northers CBD a better place for pedestrians more on the style of bourke, collins and swanson currently that part of town is ugly and lacks retail/cafes in the streets

They are going to fill in the space, south west of the tower (corner of Little Lonsdale & Elizabeth St) with a new 2 storey building connected with the foyer of the tower and the shopping centre.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>sounds good
melb central was in need of an upgrade
is the roof thing staying ?

hopefully this will go towards making the northers CBD a better place for pedestrians more on the style of bourke, collins and swanson currently that part of town is ugly and lacks retail/cafes in the streets</td></tr>
</table>
You're right, Chrisaus. Melb Central is shit. It's so shit, they've decided to remove the ugly looking cone roof so that it will become an open air shopping centre, and the rain from the perpetually bad weather can come down into the shopping centre. And the shot tower is also being removed becos it's so old and grimy.

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>sounds good
melb central was in need of an upgrade
is the roof thing staying ?

hopefully this will go towards making the northers CBD a better place for pedestrians more on the style of bourke, collins and swanson currently that part of town is ugly and lacks retail/cafes in the streets</td></tr>
</table>
You're right, Chrisaus. Melb Central is shit. It's so shit, they've decided to remove the ugly looking cone roof so that it will become an open air shopping centre, and the rain from the perpetually bad weather can come down into the shopping centre. And the shot tower is also being removed becos it's so old and grimy.</td></tr>
</table>

what the fuck are you on about:?

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Blabbyboy </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>sounds good
melb central was in need of an upgrade
is the roof thing staying ?

hopefully this will go towards making the northers CBD a better place for pedestrians more on the style of bourke, collins and swanson currently that part of town is ugly and lacks retail/cafes in the streets</td></tr>
</table>
You're right, Chrisaus. Melb Central is shit. It's so shit, they've decided to remove the ugly looking cone roof so that it will become an open air shopping centre, and the rain from the perpetually bad weather can come down into the shopping centre. And the shot tower is also being removed becos it's so old and grimy.</td></tr>
</table>

what the fuck are you on about:?</td></tr>
</table>

Your stupidity.

You're bloody clueless chris, that part of town is absolutely fine. There is nothing wrong with it at all. Keep you're ill judged comments to yourself. Stop hacking up posts with pointless shit - you contribute nothing.

Go snap some happy snaps of some strangers 'alfresco' dining.

Dickhead. :baaa:

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>sounds good
melb central was in need of an upgrade
is the roof thing staying ?

hopefully this will go towards making the northers CBD a better place for pedestrians more on the style of bourke, collins and swanson currently that part of town is ugly and lacks retail/cafes in the streets</td></tr>
</table>
You're right, Chrisaus. Melb Central is shit. It's so shit, they've decided to remove the ugly looking cone roof so that it will become an open air shopping centre, and the rain from the perpetually bad weather can come down into the shopping centre. And the shot tower is also being removed becos it's so old and grimy.</td></tr>
</table>

what the fuck are you on about:?</td></tr>
</table>

Your stupidity.

You're bloody clueless chris, that part of town is absolutely fine. There is nothing wrong with it at all. Keep you're ill judged comments to yourself. Stop hacking up posts with pointless shit - you contribute nothing.

Go snap some happy snaps of some strangers 'alfresco' dining.

Dickhead. :baaa:</td></tr>
</table>

pffft im not stupid, maybe your blind
the northern part of the city lacks street trees, lacks interesting frontages to the streets, shops/cafes etc..
compare it to the southern like collins that has large mature trees, full of shops/cafes with interesting streetfront
a big difference !!
its becoming very easy to see why victorians are known as dickheads by the rest of the nation.....
http://ufies.org/~aleith/transit/melbourne/a2_246.jpg
http://www.kisho.co.jp/WorksAndProjects/Works/melbourne/56.jpg

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pffft im not stupid, maybe your blind
the northern part of the city lacks street trees, lacks interesting frontages to the streets, shops/cafes etc..
compare it to the southern like collins that has large mature trees, full of shops/cafes with interesting streetfront
a big difference !!
its becoming very easy to see why victorians are known as dickheads by the rest of the nation.....</td></tr>
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flying "a few day" visits don't make you an expert & automatically give you some standing when you comment on other cities.

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by tayser </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>

pffft im not stupid, maybe your blind
the northern part of the city lacks street trees, lacks interesting frontages to the streets, shops/cafes etc..
compare it to the southern like collins that has large mature trees, full of shops/cafes with interesting streetfront
a big difference !!
its becoming very easy to see why victorians are known as dickheads by the rest of the nation.....</td></tr>
</table>

flying "a few day" visits don't make you an expert & automatically give you some standing when you comment on other cities.</td></tr>
</table>

yeah true, im not claiming to be an expert, but i could clearly see latrobe and lonsdale around melbourne central lacked something compared to collins, bourke and swanson, how can you disagree with that

Chris its not just Victorians - its every other state you constantly create negative unconstructive comments about.

If my digi was working i'd take afew pics of the northern CBD just to prove you wrong. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, ADMIT IT.
There is as much good street frontage in the northern CBD, and good aethsetics as anywhere else in the CBD, yes Collins is better, but it doesn't mean the North is bad.

Hell, even your precious Hay Street is nothing to rave about - talk about Big Town (Or perhaps 1980's Suburban Mall) syndrome!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by hunter </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Chris its not just Victorians - its every other state you constantly create negative unconstructive comments about.

If my digi was working i'd take afew pics of the northern CBD just to prove you wrong. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, ADMIT IT.
There is as much good street frontage in the northern CBD, and good aethsetics as anywhere else in the CBD, yes Collins is better, but it doesn't mean the North is bad.

Hell, even your precious Hay Street is nothing to rave about - talk about Big Town (Or perhaps 1980's Suburban Mall) syndrome!</td></tr>
</table>

yeah i do rip into every city, esp perth
yeah your right about hay street, its only just started turning into a shopping/cafe area outside of the mall, and new buildings are only just starting to be built, the trees are starting to mature, over the past years and comeing years its starting to turn into something more special.
http://www.pibt.wa.edu.au/images/picPerth01b.jpg
http://www.pibt.wa.edu.au/images/picPerth02b.jpg

Who are you guys talking about?

chrisaus is on my Ignore List, so I never get the pleasure of reading any of his posts! You guys should try it. Its a great tool!

So can anyone get/take photo's of the works inside?

I might be heading there tomorrow, but I don't have my digital camera to take some photo's.

Does anyone know if there's fixing up the facade on the carpark next the the curch on the corner (opposite MYER), I never like that facade, looks cheap and nastey.

From the comments above, I'm presuming the glass cone is going to be unaltered in the reno.



James.

Why on earth would you want to get rid of the glass cone? Its a great structure and unique in Australia.

The car park in question, is owned by St Francis Church, that is why its called the "St Francis Church Car Park".

There is no access to the constrcution site. So if anyone was going to venture in from the burbs for pics, forget about it.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Aussie Steve </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Why on earth would you want to get rid of the glass cone? Its a great structure and unique in Australia.

The car park in question, is owned by St Francis Church, that is why its called the "St Francis Church Car Park".

There is no access to the constrcution site. So if anyone was going to venture in from the burbs for pics, forget about it.</td></tr>
</table>

I don't want to cone changed, I like as is. But wondering if it was in the plan for any alterations to it (even minor ones).

Didn't know about the car park, thanks.

I thought there might be some viewing windows into the construction zone, or gaps in the screens where you can see or even over the screens - ie holding the camera up high.

When I was last there a few weeks ago, there wasn't any graphics anywhere. Have they put anythingh up yet?


James.

The only thing they are doing to the cone is removing the huge video screen (which I like but hasn't worked for at least 5 years), and all the other crap hanging inside it (inc. the balloon & plane). The stupid watch will get a make over too (THANK GOD!).

As soon as I know about a display suit, I will let everyone know! :D

PS I WAS WRONG!

There are little holes throughout the site that you can peep through to have a look at all the construction work. They have removed escalators and have almost exposed all the concrete walls on the ground floor!

I wonder if that baloon thing is staying?

I don't mind the clock, way tackey though. The tourists seem to love it :)


James.

..."Once a jolly Swagman........ camped by a billabong...."

;)

tays

Once again, according to skysrapers.com the approved 300 Lonsdale Street highrise as part of the Melb. Central redevelopment @ 84m (275ft) and 18 levels above ground.

Even though ssc states this has been approved, any more news on this tower?

I kept a rendering of it from an Age article back in 2001 - I will rummage around for it this weekend to scan soon.

In the meantime, does somebody have a render or pic of it to post?

The neighbours of Melbourne Central have been told about the new office tower. We were also told that the redevelopment of MC will only happen if the new office tower on the front portion of the Lonsdale St building went ahead. To date, the neighbours don't know when the tower will go up if at all!

The only thing I've heard about the plans is that the basic concept is to turn the original design of the shopping complex (A Japanese metabolist architect called Kurokawa pretty much designed the entire block in'90) which sort-of reminds one of a rubix cube gone wrong from some angles, into something that interacts with the city a lot more - architect-speak for punching huge holes in blank walls and introducing lots of curtainwall glass, more pedestrian access + links, etc. The shot tower and its huge glass condom will remain, but the lower interior levels are going to be gutted and thoroughly rearranged. Plans for 12 new cinemas on Level 4-5. Large homemaker + whitegoods, bookstores, etc on lower levels. Should be interesting to see the overlap/competition with QV.

Blue

@ Bluestar tayser iniitated a thread on actually working out & defining the overall shape of Melbourne Central's Tower. There is also a link in the thread to read Kurokawa's idea of geometry in relation to M.C.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21323

@ Aussie Steve. As we have learnt, "approved" unfortunately doesn't necessarily mean "going ahead". You have to approach Centre Management and/or developers (better to get 2 answers and then make up your own mind I've learn't). Sometimes even the arhcitects/designers too.

The 84m tower is allowed to be built if wanted...

There is a vewing area into the construction zone from the entrance to the centre on the corner of La Trobe & Swanston Sts. You must all have a look. They have torn ot almost everything including some escalators. The one sad thing is, is that they have wraped the stupid, bloody (that was not the word I wanted to use, but its a "G" rated forum) clock to save it from any damage. DRATS!

There's an ad in the AFR today about Melb Central being tenanted by Accenture, with an "exciting" redevelopment of the tower foyer as well (don't know if this was reported before).

Btw, for those who didn't know, the official name for the Melb Central tower is..."The Tower" (which it has always been).

That's what I've trying to find out for the past 2 weeks. Apparently they'll be hoarding off the whole SW corner of the external plaza, cnr Eliz and Lt Lonsdale and the plan is to erect something there. There's also some plan to add a new floor to the internal foyer area. Supposed to be some news coming on the tower website, but nothing as yet. :?

Like I have said before, they are building a 2 storey building on the corner of Little Lonsdale & Elizabeth Sts. The hoarding is going up as we speak.

it will be interesting to see how the new cinema complex performs, tayser recently posted an article about how melbourne CBD cinemas are performing badly. maybe the market is looking for ultra modern cinemas and this will be what they are looking for and proove popular and the city cinemas arn't popular because the suburban cinema are more modern and closer

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Toronto Kid </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>it will be interesting to see how the new cinema complex performs, tayser recently posted an article about how melbourne CBD cinemas are performing badly. maybe the market is looking for ultra modern cinemas and this will be what they are looking for and proove popular and the city cinemas arn't popular because the suburban cinema are more modern and closer</td></tr>
</table>

Shut the f#$% up you stupid Australian. Nobody gives a flying f#$$ what you have to say.</td></tr>
</table>


WTF ????

I say tays old boy.. be a good fellow and pass the TROLL zapper ..

:spam1:

Tally Ho Chop Chop theres a good lad !!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by A-brain </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Toronto Kid </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>it will be interesting to see how the new cinema complex performs, tayser recently posted an article about how melbourne CBD cinemas are performing badly. maybe the market is looking for ultra modern cinemas and this will be what they are looking for and proove popular and the city cinemas arn't popular because the suburban cinema are more modern and closer</td></tr>
</table>

Shut the f#$% up you stupid Australian. Nobody gives a flying f#$$ what you have to say.</td></tr>
</table>


WTF ????

I say tays old boy.. be a good fellow and pass the TROLL zapper ..

:spam1:

Tally Ho Chop Chop theres a good lad !!</td></tr>
</table>

*bows*

Troll zapped.

more news at a 11 ;)

tays

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Aussie Steve </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Why on earth would you want to get rid of the glass cone? Its a great structure and unique in Australia.

The car park in question, is owned by St Francis Church, that is why its called the "St Francis Church Car Park".

There is no access to the constrcution site. So if anyone was going to venture in from the burbs for pics, forget about it.</td></tr>
</table>

sydney has a glass cone too- above the former sega world in darling harbour. nowhere near as big as melbourne central, but its still a glass cone :D

http://utenti.lycos.it/Sharallalla/sm_au151.jpg

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by SydneyDude </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Aussie Steve </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Why on earth would you want to get rid of the glass cone? Its a great structure and unique in Australia.

The car park in question, is owned by St Francis Church, that is why its called the "St Francis Church Car Park".

There is no access to the constrcution site. So if anyone was going to venture in from the burbs for pics, forget about it.</td></tr>
</table>
hasn't segaworld closed down?
the MC glass cone is the largest in the world. height ???
sydney has a glass cone too- above the former sega world in darling harbour. nowhere near as big as melbourne central, but its still a glass cone :D

http://utenti.lycos.it/Sharallalla/sm_au151.jpg</td></tr>
</table>

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Blabbyboy </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by SydneyDude </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Aussie Steve </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Why on earth would you want to get rid of the glass cone? Its a great structure and unique in Australia.

The car park in question, is owned by St Francis Church, that is why its called the "St Francis Church Car Park".

There is no access to the constrcution site. So if anyone was going to venture in from the burbs for pics, forget about it.</td></tr>
</table>
hasn't segaworld closed down?
the MC glass cone is the largest in the world. height ???
sydney has a glass cone too- above the former sega world in darling harbour. nowhere near as big as melbourne central, but its still a glass cone :D

http://utenti.lycos.it/Sharallalla/sm_au151.jpg</td></tr>
</table></td></tr>
</table>

Yeh sega world closed down ages ago, but the glass cone and building is still there. Its small compared to the grand Melbourne Central cone. When i was in melbourne i remember standing underneath and looking up in amazement.

Is it really the biggest in the world?

bumped so as thread wont get deleted

Just had a walk through and there is action a plenty. The ceiling in the concourse level of the station is gone, as are a number of stairs and escalators leading up to street level.

Shops have now opened up in the old Diamaru store at street level near the Little Lonsdale Street entrance. Nothing special. Maybe their temporary!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>it will be interesting to see how the new cinema complex performs, tayser recently posted an article about how melbourne CBD cinemas are performing badly. maybe the market is looking for ultra modern cinemas and this will be what they are looking for and proove popular and the city cinemas arn't popular because the suburban cinema are more modern and closer</td></tr>
</table>
I think they'd do well - but they may steal some of the storm from Crown - currently Australia's most profitable cinema complex. That's where all the inner northern burb students go when they want to watch a moofie. The poor performance of the CBD cinemas is purely a result of their (very poor) physical state - they're stuck in the 70s, MAN. Village Bourke St is not too bad - featuring the first THX equipped cinemas in Australia. Melbourne already has the best cinemas in Australia handsdown courtesy of Village, which literally pioneered the current glamour-multiplex format worldwide 10 years ago (now-standard features like wider seats with retractable armrests, Gold Class, double armrests in Cinema Europa, stadium seating, digital sound in all cinemas and now VMax (largest conventional screen in Aust) were all intro'd in Melbourne first and poorly copied by Hoyts, etc). Now Fed Square's ACMI has the first digital cinema in Aust. Fabulous, darls!

Yeah ditto on the construction progress.. some McIver scaffolding support has gone up today around this mini office thingy on the corner of Lt.Lon and Elizabeth .. and there was a monster mobile crane on LaTrobe St frontage doing some shit ..

As the mayor in the Dish says: "Its all go.. !"

Time for an update on the tower development.
Work is fully underway for the redevelopemnt of the tower lobby and forecourt. The Eastern side of the lobby foyer has been hoarded off, the ceiling and floors removed, steel girders hav been installed to provide a "new" 2nd level that will stretch around the corner on both sides of the lobby where it joins to the retail shopping centre. The Tower lobby itself will be narrowed significantly on these two sides and a new stone wall constructed to keep the tower separate to the retail area. The new 2 level retail area will be accessible from outside the tower via the two lanes that run between the current tower lobby and old retail sections.
The lobby will be extended to the West facing Elizabeth street with new a new glass curtain to be installed and new revolving doors etc.
It's hard to picture and if I can scan some diagrams I've got I'll try and put them up on the board here.
Anyway it's all system go, but not expected to be complete for another 12-15 months .
:cheers:

Went through Melbourne Central on the Weekend, most of the centre is boarded up now with no acces to the atrium under the cone.

I had a peek through the hoardings and they have absoultely ripped the guts out of the atrium now, they were doing some serious demolition work with very heavy machinery ;-)

This is much more than a renovation, they are virtually rebuilding the whole complex form the inside out!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Grollo </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Went through Melbourne Central on the Weekend, most of the centre is boarded up now with no acces to the atrium under the cone.

I had a peek through the hoardings and they have absoultely ripped the guts out of the atrium now, they were doing some serious demolition work with very heavy machinery ;-)

This is much more than a renovation, they are virtually rebuilding the whole complex form the inside out!</td></tr>
</table>
By the sounds of it, the quality of the action is HIGH...in other words, why go for a little dabble hear and there when you can rip the guts out of a landmark building and bring it up to date, despite the fact that it's not that old!!! So...this is going to be great - the new MC will be a shopping centre to be reckoned with!!! Collins Place, Galleria, QV are on notice!

Gladiator! READY! Challenger! READY!

Or should it...bring duelling pistols and Bible. Shot, casket and white handkerchief provided. Ten paces, turn, wait until the white handkerchief is released. Loser's bloated body will be scooped out of the Yarra. :D First up...MC v QV!

We have one problem, there are no major tenants signed up as yet. NONE! :(

Not even Hoyts has signed up. There is also space for 2 majors, but no one is putting their hands up to take the space :(

Yeah I had a look through the peep holes last week as well and they have really ripped the guts right out of the place.
Hope they get the quality retailers that a development of this quality deserves.

The new shops near Dymocks, are these permanent? or temporary? It's hard to tell, the shopfronts are basic and pretty ordinary.

How long are these renovations supposed to take anyway? Beginning of next year maybe?

I also wonder if the rest of the centre is getting a spruce up - ie where Colorado is, ie from Myer.

Time will tell.


James.

The upper concourse of the station had had its guts ripped out the other week (last time I was up there) - anything new in there ?

Message cancelled, membership voluntarily withdrawn.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by joed </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>The new shops near Dymocks, are these permanent? or temporary? It's hard to tell, the shopfronts are basic and pretty ordinary.
James.</td></tr>
</table>
The new shops near Dymocks on the ground floor in the La Trobe Street building are permanent.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by joed </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>I also wonder if the rest of the centre is getting a spruce up - ie where Colorado is, ie from Myer.
James.</td></tr>
</table>
Yes, the whole centre will be refurbished including the Lonsdale Street building. it will look amazing. I have seen some plans and it will look like no other shopping centre in Melbourne. Very modern.

Thanks Aussie Steve.

Do you know if they are still going to open the basement floor up to Myer? I remember ages ago there was talk about it.

Also, do you know if the enclosed pedestrian bridge over Lonsdale St is going to change at all?


James.

The Little Lonsdale Street pedo bridge is changing:

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/melbcentral3.jpg

Talk about "the boy in the bubble" !

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by joed </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Do you know if they are still going to open the basement floor up to Myer? I remember ages ago there was talk about it.

Also, do you know if the enclosed pedestrian bridge over Lonsdale St is going to change at all?

James.</td></tr>
</table>
As far as I know, there is no connection under Lonsdale Street between Myer and Melbourne Central. I have had a look at the original plans, and there is no such thing.

With regards to the bridge, the pic posted above by Tayser is what will happen to the Little Lonsdale Street bridge. The Lonsdale Street bridge will remain the same, with a little tinkering here and there.

Thanks Aussie Steve.

:)


James


PS Yay, my 100th post!

Progress pics:

The clock looks funny all wrapped up!
http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/pictures/melbcentral1.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/pictures/melbcentral2.jpg

I still cant even begin to conceive what the hell is going to happen in there...!

anyone want to try and speculate how they're going to "carve lanes" through there ? lol!

tays

I reckon they could ruin what was a great space by building it in like this.

Looks like they're trying to give it an arcade-style feel, allowing people to walk right through the store

nevermind the redevelopment (joking :D),

ding ding ding ding:

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/mcview1.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/mcview2.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/mcview3.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/mcview4.jpg

L35 - ACCC Reception. Was a freak chance the receptionist lady didn't tell me (and oztraelean who's down from Brisbane) to P.O.Q.

Anyhow, was in MC the other day, thinking it's still a good shortcut, and well no. Scratch that idea, the thing's like a freaking labyrinth now, passageways all over the joint, couldn't see much of the interior works though.

Another block that's gone completely mad.

Ahh yes, the ACCC reception. Try going further up next time, to the receptions on the 40+ levels.

There is now a video of what they plan to do to Melbourne Central near the viewing window (near the corner of Swanston & La Trobe Sts). I just had a look and the video is amazing. It gives you great perspectives of the new walkways, lanes, streets and the new external facade.

This video is a must see.

NEWS (http://www.melbournecentral.com.au/llretail/melbournecentral/main.nsf/all/news_nt00006daa)

3 July 2003

Melbourne Central revamp attracts elite retail mix
G Star, Oroton, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Jeans, Morrissey, MARCS, Billabong, Kookai and De Cjuba plan to join the new Melbourne Central.

The Project Leasing Manager Rob Dicintio, said the project team at Lend Lease Retail is targeting a mix of stores that will allow the consumer to shop, dine and be entertained. "The mix of retail is edgy, progressive and stylish aiming to blend the best of Melbourne's streets under one roof, offering a world-class urban retail and entertainment precinct," Dicintio said.

The following world-class retailers are just some of the big brands that plan to join to the Melbourne Central redevelopment:
Max & Co
Australia's largest Kookai and De Cjuba concept stores across two levels
Country Road
Billabong flagship store
G Star concept store
General Pants
Industrie
Sabi Lingerie
Tommy Hilfiger
Polo Jeans
Pilgrim
MARCS flagship store across two levels
Queenspark
Oroton
Morrissey
Dangerfield
Rogues (incorporating a Paul Frank concession)
Satch (Men's and Women's)
Coles Express
Hoyts twelve screen cinema complex

The Melbourne Central train station – which sits under Melbourne Central – will be fully integrated into the new precinct. This new precinct – anchored by Coles Express– will house a number of specialist fresh food operators and a range of personal and essential services which will complement the offer.

Just like a 'third place' after the home or the office, the new development will offer a leisure and entertainment zone consisting of a Hoyts twelve screen cinema complex, a proposed gymnasium, bars, cafes and leading restaurants. The retail and leisure precinct will host a range of regular events, which will complement Melbourne's major events program.

Sounds like they know what they are doing and will give QV a run for their money .These two projects will really enhance that end of town.Great Stuff!

are these brand new stores for the CBD or are some moving from crown & collins street etc ?

I read in the latest issue of Melbourne Magazine that the Tommy Hilfilger store is set to open by November this year!

I'm confused..what's the time schedule for this project? I thought it wasn't going to be finished until about end 2004?

I'm coming back to Melbourne in December and it would be great if it was partially open by then - there's some really top shops going into the development. The North CBD is going to be pretty chichi!!

Is MelbMag actually being sold over there now Garmatt ?

Ha! No way!

I got a subscription and have it sent to my Mother who sends it over once a month!

What can I say...I'm homesick.
Keeps me in the know and my mother off the streets (lol)

Originally posted by chrisaus
are these brand new stores for the CBD or are some moving from crown & collins street etc ?

I would imagine they are brand new. It's unlikely a store would move from crown to MC, or even collins st to MC.

Originally posted by jquirke
I would imagine they are brand new. It's unlikely a store would move from crown to MC, or even collins st to MC.
Most are brand new, if not already there before.

The glass wall along Elizabeth Street of the glass canopy over the entrance to the Office Tower is being removed today I wonder why? I didn't think the canopy was going to be touched, but I guess I was wrong. :(

Originally posted by Aussie Steve
The glass wall along Elizabeth Street of the glass canopy over the entrance to the Office Tower is being removed today I wonder why? I didn't think the canopy was going to be touched, but I guess I was wrong. :(
That's the best bit!!! I hope they put it back!!!

Btw, Collins Place redevelopment (I can't find the thread) is going along swimmingly! The glass opening up on Flinders Lane and Collins is all good!

It seems as though we are only weeks away from the opening of the train station concourse retail area. There are a number of food stores, cafes and other shops almost ready to open. One name I spotted yesterday was Subway. It seems as though Melbourne Central will open first before QV! The race is on!

Shopping centre to be 'lifestyle venue'
By Liz Gooch
August 31, 2003


The proposed bubble bridge over Little Lonsdale Street.


Last week sections of Melbourne Central were boarded up, plastic sheeting hid a backhoe and few customers passed through the doors. Fast-forward to the end of next year and the area will be transformed, with people spilling out of cafes, restaurants, cinemas and bars after visiting an array of fashion shops.

That is the dream of the developers.

"This is what I would call one of Australia's first urban shopping precincts," said Lend Lease project development director Lachlan Cameron.

The new Melbourne Central is to be a combined shopping and entertainment complex for inner-city dwellers. "We've got to produce a product that's relevant to that new market," Mr Cameron said. "We're going back to a traditional street and laneway concept which fits in with the Melbourne grid."

The developers want to offer Melburnians an alternative to the multi-level shopping centres dotted throughout the suburbs. "We're acknowledging that those upper levels don't work in Australia so we're putting the 12-screen cinema complex on the top levels," Mr Cameron said. Cafes, bars and restaurants will surround the cinemas, with clothing shops on the lower levels.


Mr Cameron said he hoped people would use the centre as a place to catch up with friends and check out the latest trends in films, books, food and hairstyles. "We've got to create an environment that's conducive to that so you don't feel like you have to be shopping to be here," he said.

Parts of the centre will reopen progressively in coming months, with the redevelopment expected to be complete by December 2004.

Shop assistants said last week that business had been quiet and people were confused about how to find their way around the centre.

http://theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/30/1062194758833.html

Now that sounds like a good development, perfect for all of those inner city residents....brilliant urban design there!:cool:

Message cancelled, membership voluntarily withdrawn.

wogboy, can you check the quick links thread to see if there's already a thread made for a project in fututre please ?

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51920

tays

The picture featured in wogboy's article:
http://www.fooled-forever.net/clem/misc/bubble.jpg
Am I right in thinking this is the first colour rendering we have of this?

yep! :)

Melbourne Central hosted another one of its residents meeting this afternoon and it seems that they are keen on still building the office tower on top of their Lonsdale Street building once they complete the retail component.

PS Mid to late October for the opening of the railway concourse area. :D

.

Originally posted by Aussie Steve
Melbourne Central hosted another one of its residents meeting this afternoon and it seems that they are keen on still building the office tower on top of their Lonsdale Street building once they complete the retail component.

PS Mid to late October for the opening of the railway concourse area. :D

Thank god, can't wait to be able to transit the area with out the construction zone. What about the Elizabeth street entrance to MC? Anyone got any clue as to a date they'll pull down the labyrinth?

Originally posted by Cornholio
Thank god, can't wait to be able to transit the area with out the construction zone. What about the Elizabeth street entrance to MC? Anyone got any clue as to a date they'll pull down the labyrinth?
I seriously doubt that they will pull down the Liz St "labyrinth"!

The last pic I saw still had the "labyrinth" in standing, but that was a few months ago!

The "labyrinth" as you call it will NOT be pulled down per se, but it is all being modified. That's why the glass is comning down as we speak. It's all going to be re-aligned with the 2 new "wings" that are sprouting out from the main tower foyer and will provide cafe/bakery type fare for the tower "residents", a bit like what you find at Rialto etc. HArd to describe as it's all still such a mess. Give it six months and it will start to take shape.

The station subway is starting to come together with Subway, Cofee HQ etc to be residents there. Shouldn't be too far off opening as much of the fitout of the shops has been completed.

Got a job at MC Sat nite for BLL anyone want any info?

:cool:

Originally posted by jag
Got a job at MC Sat nite for BLL anyone want any info?

:cool:
What? What on earth are you talking about? What is BLL?

Bovis Lend-Lease

go on jag, whats the news

Ok.
If you have any questions you want answered Ill be there with the main man on Sat nite and I can ask on your behalf.

:poke:

Great project :guns1:

It seems that BLL have spent their budget already and the project is nowhere near finished Stage 1.

Numerous unexpected teething and building integration problems have cost heaps apparently.

Still like Fed Sq itll be finished one day.

:cool:

Originally posted by jag
It seems that BLL have spent their budget already and the project is nowhere near finished Stage 1.

Numerous unexpected teething and building integration problems have cost heaps apparently.

Still like Fed Sq itll be finished one day.

:cool:
How do you know this? That's bad news! I hope they don't start cutting corners and not building what they originally planned!

Originally posted by Blabbyboy
How do you know this? That's bad news! I hope they don't start cutting corners and not building what they originally planned!
Sorry to have to tell you this, but they are cutting corners. A friend of mine who is head of the drawing team has said that the final outcome (in some instances) is nothing like the final drawings his team did/doing! :(

Originally posted by jag
It seems that BLL have spent their budget already and the project is nowhere near finished Stage 1.

Numerous unexpected teething and building integration problems have cost heaps apparently.

Still like Fed Sq itll be finished one day.

:cool:

Where's all the Bracks Govt haters now?? it must be its fault that this project has gone so far over budget.:laugh:

Originally posted by Aussie Steve
Sorry to have to tell you this, but they are cutting corners. A friend of mine who is head of the drawing team has said that the final outcome (in some instances) is nothing like the final drawings his team did/doing! :(
That's VERY bad news.:bleep: :rant:

Originally posted by Aussie Steve
Sorry to have to tell you this, but they are cutting corners. A friend of mine who is head of the drawing team has said that the final outcome (in some instances) is nothing like the final drawings his team did/doing! :(

So no bubble-glass overpass on Lt.Lonsdale St ??? This was the only part I cared about !!!


:bleep: :rant:

Originally posted by A-brain
So no bubble-glass overpass on Lt.Lonsdale St ??? This was the only part I cared about !!!

:bleep: :rant:
Oh, if thats all you care about then no need to worry. The bubble bridge is still going ahead (as of last week).

Originally posted by Aussie Steve
Oh, if thats all you care about then no need to worry. The bubble bridge is still going ahead (as of last week).

YAY !! :banana:

So which bits aren't then ?

Originally posted by Blabbyboy
How do you know this? That's bad news! I hope they don't start cutting corners and not building what they originally planned!

BB

I consult to the building industry and BLL are one of our clients.

I suppose Im just a nosey sticky beak who cant mind my own business.





;)

Open For Business!!!

Yes, 1/2 of the concourse area of Melbourne Central Station (closest to Elizabeth Street) is now open for business. There are at least 12 stores open and a few more to come. There is still more work to be done at the Swanston Street end of the concourse.

Originally posted by Aussie Steve
Open For Business!!!

Yes, 1/2 of the concourse area of Melbourne Central Station (closest to Elizabeth Street) is now open for business. There are at least 12 stores open and a few more to come. There is still more work to be done at the Swanston Street end of the concourse.

what kind of shops have opened at the station? [wondering what I can expect at perth's new underground stations]

any plans etc ???????

Everybody should read AR - it's a great magazine showcasing quality Aussie architecture:D Here's some scans from this months issue:

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-%20Cone.jpg

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-%20Bubbles.jpg

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-%20Elevation.jpg

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC-%20Swanston%20Corner.jpg

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-Elizabeth%20Corner.jpg

I like the corner timber box treatment on Swanston Street, and the cone and bubble treatments look pretty good, but I am can't quite figure out why the Elizabeth Street corner has what looks like an islamic reference (or is it a tea doilly?) to that screen - a bit too out-there methinks:?

It is what ARM would probably term an "urban tapestry"!!

I see they're not going to be using the previously un-used retail space under the cone anymore:

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-%20Cone.jpg

I'd love for some high-tech gizzmo shit for advertising on the Swanston / Latrobe corner - mmmm!

thanks heaps Fountainhead!

Originally posted by Fountainhead
http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-Elizabeth%20Corner.jpg



Wtf??? That's some weird shit man.
Hopefully it doesn't look too 'out there'.

Also, what happened to the digital clocks out the front of melb central station that were supposed to make it look like the flinders st station of the future??

is that big television screen inside going to remain there?

errr looked better before....

Yay!! The bubble bridge remains!!

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-%20Bubbles.jpg

:rock: :rock: :rock:

But have they closed off the upper level of the bridge?

I reckon it looks good.. change is as good as a holiday and the place was starting to look tired .. we should feel very lucky to have two amazing new (well one new and one like new) going up side by side..

Most cities would leave Melbourne Central looking the way it did for at least another 10 years.. there was nothing *that* wrong with it.. still looked modern.. but that's not good enough for modern melbourne!!

The biggest key to success will be how well these new opened-up laneways and arcades work.. I'll reserve my final judgement till then..

The Lower Ground and Ground Level and parts of Level 1 are going to open next Wednesday!!! :D

Well, that might spark off some revenue so BLL can finish the job properly.Originally posted by A-brain
Most cities would leave Melbourne Central looking the way it did for at least another 10 years.. there was nothing *that* wrong with it.. still looked modern.. but that's not good enough for modern melbourne!! :?

Originally posted by Fountainhead
Everybody should read AR - it's a great magazine showcasing quality Aussie architecture:D Here's some scans from this months issue:

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-%20Cone.jpg

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-%20Bubbles.jpg

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-%20Elevation.jpg

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC-%20Swanston%20Corner.jpg

http://fountainhead.50megs.com/other%20images/MC%20-Elizabeth%20Corner.jpg

I like the corner timber box treatment on Swanston Street, and the cone and bubble treatments look pretty good, but I am can't quite figure out why the Elizabeth Street corner has what looks like an islamic reference (or is it a tea doilly?) to that screen - a bit too out-there methinks:?

It is what ARM would probably term an "urban tapestry"!!


Yeah i agree, the Elizabeth End does look quite 'islamic'. mmm. nothing wrong wif that but i would have prefered if they had left it as it was.
rev

Originally posted by SydneyDude
is that big television screen inside going to remain there? Psssst!! :whisper: Don't think anyone knows mate.

Caught the train Melboourne Central Station today and it looks like the new entrance through the bloody shopping centre is gonna be opened on Wednesday, 5 November. As from what i have seen, there are three escalators going up to the shopping centre concourse. This is madness..:mad:
rev

Originally posted by revolution
Caught the train Melboourne Central Station today and it looks like the new entrance through the bloody shopping centre is gonna be opened on Wednesday, 5 November. As from what i have seen, there are three escalators going up to the shopping centre concourse. This is madness..:mad:
rev

I know I should follow this forum more carefully and often, but, can somebody tell me why this is a bad thing?

Case 1:
You are in an extreme hurry to get your train, but blocking your way is a couple of Suzy Homemakers with obligatory brats in tow. MC Station entrances are crowded enough as it is during peak hour.

Case 2:
It's bad enough getting off the trains these days with all those bloody chuggers (charity muggers) blocking your way, soliciting for money/credit cards etc. Imagine the store/centre adding spruikers to that as well.

Not Happy Jan!

Originally posted by SydneyDude
is that big television screen inside going to remain there?
Its gone! :( I loved that video screen. it only worked for a first few yeasr and after that it was never turned back on :(

There are a number of walls coming down today, so we will be abel to see what the refub will look like by Wednesday morning! Yipeeeeeeeeeeeee :D

The new station access looks just about ready to go. get set in the next cupppla days.....

It looks amazing. I just had a quick walk through the new look Melbourne Central and its great. None of the shops have opened and the walkway towards Lonsdale Street is to open in 6 days time, but on the whole it looks great.

BUT!!!!

The removal of the escalators from the Swanston Street entrance was the worst decision! Now you have to walk through the middle of the shopping centre (up 2 sets of escalators) and get dumped in front of the Shot Tower and walk from there to Swanston Street. Very very bad decision!!!

PS Coles will open mid-2004 on lower ground where the old Swanston St escalators were/are.

I am really disgusted how they closed those escalators on Swanston St. It’s awful now how you have to walk half a city block to get to the station. Not to mention having to go up/down two sets of escalators as well as pushing and shoving into shoppers in the middle of MC. It is quite sad to see such a wonderful station being ruined by such bad planning. I’m sure many people out there like myself are not impressed from having to detour through the MC to get to the bloody station.

REV
:bleep:

looks good, as for the funneling of people to the shot tower and then down again - meh, well, they still have to open up the pathways towards the Swanston Street entry, it'd get annoying in peaks, but other than I'm not that fussed.

just really an inconvenience really.

5/10 on new Station entry.
9/10 for the look of it all!

I had a stroll through there today on my work break. Still very incomplete and at leat a good year or so before the rest of the shops will be complete I'd say by the looks of it. They still hadn't even started some parts! Consodering QV was a hole in the ground this time last year and the shopping precinct's on the verge of completion you'd have thought MC would be a lot closer to finishing. Quite dissapointing. I prefer if they try to finish things at the same time, even if it means we have to wait longer for the first look... I don't know, it just sorta ruins it for me.

I did notice that there is a new entrance to the station from La Trobe street which prevents the long walk through from Swanston street. Overall it wasn't really that bad, as Tays said, maybe a problem in peak hour for some...? Who knows until the whole place opens really.

Having said all that, what I did see was quite good. Won't say anymore than that until a whole lot more of the centre is open for business. So still majorly undecided on this one.

MG2

Hard to judge traffic flow until
a) Shops are open and crowded with punters - months
b) Laneway to Swanston etr is open - weeks?
c) Walkway thru to Lonsdale Str is open - should be in a cuppla days

FYI 'Bay Swiss' are opening a big homewares store / cafe in MC this coming Wednesday!!!!
The Sydney based group opened their first Vic stores earlier this year at Knox and Southland...

Just a quick note to say that ARM's 'DO' of MC is AWESOME - the Lonsdale St frontage treatment is fantastic from Swanston to Lizzie St, and the "Islamic" montage is an inspired design - as long as they leave the massive glass canopy at the base of The Tower intact (which looks to be the case).

MELB IS GOING RETAIL NUTS!!! I'M ULTRA HYPED UP FOR QV v MC and will make my judgment when it's all open at last! But even though I haven't seen the new MC Station Swanston St entrance closure & new redirection, I can already tell that it's SHITE and everyone seems to think so. (Phew - lucky that's not my daily station!).

I don't see what the big deal is about the new entrance...I doubt that it will be the only main exit from the station permanently, and as it was before many of the lower level retailers were getting killed because all of their would-be patronage was disappearing up the escalators to Swanston St, instead of emerging inside the centre as was originally intended.
This fixture is designed somewhat like your average casino, in that the exits to the outside are de-emphasised but not completely done away. The major, visually accented exits emerge into the major retailing area, and the other exits eg the Latrobe St exit and others to come, are discreet. It's a commercially sensible strategy by making tenancies more attractive and I doubt it will cause flow problems once its finished. Patience people.

Blue

I just had a quick walk through and the lower level is OPEN!!!!
It looks amazing. I walked right under Little Lonsdale Street and din't even know it!

If anyone interested in photos of Melbourne Central under construction? I have a few that I no longer need. They are in hard copy, so I am more then happy to post them to anyone interested (sorry, no time to scan them). Please send me a private message if interested.

http://www.notsosilentnight.com/newsletter/images/2003/november/m_page4_img1.jpg
ABOVE:
Lower ground Central Concourse mall.

http://www.notsosilentnight.com/newsletter/images/2003/november/m_page4_img2.jpg
ABOVE: Menzies Place.

http://www.notsosilentnight.com/newsletter/images/2003/november/m_page4_img3.gif
ABOVE: Knox Place.

Lower level is pretty interesting. Nice walk. And entrances to La Trobe ST * 2 on two different levels is new and goodness.
That Bay Swiss is pretty swish, and nice to look at, though I couldn't afford it, more Greeves St for me (in joke).

This thing is going to open in stages for the next 12 months or so, so I say get over it if this peeves you. It's gonna be great and I get pretty excited when there's some new action on the scene every week.

Went in there for another look today.

That street underneith is a bit weird. Most of that should open in the next month.

i remember way back there were rumours of linking the underground with Myer? Does anyone remember that?

I think they need to do a bit more with the entry from Lonsdale Street.


James.

I don't see what the big deal is about the new entrance...I doubt that it will be the only main exit from the station permanently, and as it was before many of the lower level retailers were getting killed because all of their would-be patronage was disappearing up the escalators to Swanston St, instead of emerging inside the centre as was originally intended.

The issue is that the 'would be patronage' are by and large not shoppers. They're not people going to Melbourne Central to buy stuff; they're people on their way to uni, work, or wherever. Forcing people to go the length of a city block (half a block and back) for the sake of tenants is stupidity and selfishness in the extreme. Management obviously see themselves as 'burdened' with having a train station underneath (or having 'untapped potential customers') rather than seeing themselves as having a responsibility to all stakeholders including commuters.

As well, It was never 'originally intended' for people to emerge into the shopping centre - the station serves the northern half of the CBD, not just Melbourne Central shopping centre (remember when it was called Museum?). The station opened in 1982, the shopping centre in 1991.

The crowds of non-shoppers are big enough during uni hours that M>Tram have crowd control security at Swanston & LaTrobe st. Now all those people are being herded through narrow corridors for the sake of the retail tenants.

It would be one thing if the current exit fixture was a permanent measure, and the measure of criticism that has been expressed to this point would in my opinion be more warranted; but this arrangement is a temporary one.
I remember distinctly when the centre was opened in 1991; amidst the fanfare, the developers spoke of the fact that the centre had been built and arranged to take advantage of the station's presence, and from that perspective it was a Melbourne first and source of curiosity. They (or I) would never suggest or intend that people would only ever depart the station just to patronise Melbourne Central itself, but as it was before, there was NO encouragement for people to consider shopping there before or after leaving the station, which was what the developers justifiably hoped to take advantage of. In the first years this was a documented source of frustration for owners and
tenants; it explained the high turnover of tenancies on the lower levels and received some local media coverage.

The final arrangement will be a more balanced one in which shops will be more visible, accessible (and therefore viable) from the concourse level, while there will still be other major exits available. Even now folks can just walk straight onto Latrobe St.
All we have now is transitory inconvinience. I just feel there are worthier things to bitch about, is all.

Blue

Originally posted by joed
...I remember way back there were rumours of linking the underground with Myer? Does anyone remember that?

James.
I would love to see a link under Lonsdale Street through to Myer Melbourne. That would allow people to walk underground from La Trobe St to Bourke St.

Bluestar, your attitude seems to suggest that you hold some brief for retail developers.

I think the Melbourne Central station access situation should demonstrate to you and your developer mates that there is something very wrong about the way you (in your own words) "take advantage" of the users of the station.

The same attitude is evident at other multilevel retail centres - eg Australia on Collins - where pre existing access paths were distorted to herd regular users to illogical levels in the Centres. At Australia on Collins there used to be a direct Lt Collins Street to Collins Street arcade now the journey is crooked and you have to go down a level. It seems that the same thinking is being used at Melbourne Central.

The develpers are unreasonable if they think that people who use a station twice every day would be happy to take an illogical detour just in case they may want to buy something on the way.

I can't understand how it is in the developers best interest to alienate potential customers 10 times a week in the hope of getting them to spend money in the centre maybe twice or three times a week.

New Works between Lonsdale and Little Lonsdale. Love the new skylights. Brings so much light into the upper floors. You can just make out the cone over the atrium.

http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/Melbourne/Construction 29Nov03/P1020177.JPG


And from the new concourse on Lonsdale St looking up - just near Colorado.

http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/Melbourne/Construction 29Nov03/P1020179.JPG

Crickey.com has taken up this 'Lend Lease taking Bracks up the arse' issue big time in recent weeks. Here's an article from a couple of weeks ago >>>>>>> ( BTW I did suss this out when I was in town a couple of days ago but got a bit confused, admitted defeat and went over to QV instead ! )


Open, responsible and accountable government in Victoria suffered a blow late this month when it was discovered, almost too late, that the Bracks government had put the interests of a major property developer well above those of the people it promised to serve. Not only that, but it was prepared to ignore one of its major policy platforms, the much heralded Melbourne 2030 metropolitan strategy, in order to do so.

The corner of Swanston and La Trobe Streets in central Melbourne is one of the more vibrant intersections of the CBD. The State Library stands proudly on one corner, the RMIT University sits on the north eastern side of the intersection, a Hungry Jacks that always seems to be busy is on the north west and then there is the Melbourne Central shopping centre, currently being redeveloped by Lend Lease, with its distinct and heritage listed shot tower. Beneath the shopping centre is located the Melbourne Central train station, used by thousands of people each day on their way to and from destinations across Melbourne.

Many of these people are taking advantage of the excellent train-tram public transport interchange on Swanston Street that allows easy transfer from one mode of public transport to the other with a minimum of delay and fuss. Such is the popularity of this interchange with workers and university students from RMIT and Melbourne University just a kilometre or so up Swanston Street, that M-Tram, the private operator of Melbourne’s tram system employs (yes that’s right, actually employs!!!) three attendants to help control the hordes of people trying to change from train to tram every day.

For a government with the commitment to public transport that it claims it has in its Melbourne 2030 document, the Bracks government should see this as a genuine success story. Repeatedly in the Melbourne 2030 strategy, the need to integrate the train, tram and bus public transport networks is given lip service. The governments own multi-million dollar "Transit Cities" program aims to "improve public transport usage and the integration of transport services" (p.54). One could be forgiven for thinking that in this new age of enlightenment under the Melbourne 2030 policy, such a long standing, successful and popular public transport interchange as that on the corner of La Trobe and Swanston Street would be safe from destruction at the hands of developer greed. Right??… Wrong!!!!!!

Plans only very recently unveiled by Lend Lease after a shameful process of trying (probably with the duplicity of the Victorian government) to hide the plans from public transport users, show that on November 5, the popular Swanston Street entrance to Melbourne Central Train Station would be permanently closed. In its place, the entrance to the train station will be relocated directly in the middle of the new Melbourne Central Shopping Centre. Commuters wishing to change to or from trams in Swanston Street will be forced to walk through a maze of shops and malls, including one bottleneck just 1.8 metres wide, in order to continue their journey. The whole design completely ignores the convenience and interests of the thousands of people using the train station each day and is simply driven by greed and the desire to push as many people through the shopping centre as possible. The good people at Lend Lease have even managed a way to make wheelchair and disabled access more difficult.

In the world of Melbourne 2030, that the Bracks government generally, but Minister for Transport Peter Batchelor and Minister for Planning Mary Delahunty more specifically, have allowed this to happen is simply scandalous. It raises serious questions as to the governments commitment to any of the principles outlined in the much vaunted Melbourne 2030 Metropolitan Strategy and goes to the heart of the governments own credibility.

The Melbourne 2030 document directly states that "integrated transport plans be prepared for all new major residential, commercial and industrial developments, and develop guidelines for developers and councils that emphasise sustainable transport outcomes" (p 152). It appears that in reality the only transport plan considered in this case was how to dump as many people in the middle of the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre as possible and make it as difficult as possible for these people to leave.

What are more ironic are the claims of Melbourne 2030 to promote "public participation and scrutiny" (p.165). Without the sharp eye and attention to detail of the volunteers at Melbourne’s Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), the Bracks government and Lend Lease would have quietly destroyed the important public asset that is the current hassle free interchange, with absolutely no community consultation at all. The first most commuters (myself included) knew of plans to close the existing entrance, was being handed a flyer by a PTUA volunteer at 8am on a morning last week.

It is difficult to see where Melbourne 2030 can go from here. The Bracks government has been proclaiming for a year its absolute commitment to the process contained within it. Yet it now seems that the Victorian Government has tripped at the first hurdle. And not a particularly big hurdle at that.

From what I've seen, heard and read about this one, it's a total bloody mess.....ugly, just freakin' ugly and useless.

What the fuck were they thinking, or rather NOT thinking?

I might well have been too hasty in assessing whether there is an overal improvement in commuter flow through the station and centre. I shall reserve further judgement until it is complete. I had assumed that there would be some kind of restoration of street level access above and beyond what is available now. If this is not the case i too would be concerned that the outcome is not a balanced one, as I was advocating would be the case. For the record Daffy I'm just a humble architecture student and don't have the nous to be pushing any corporate barrow just yet. :)

Carry on. Blue :)

Work on the bubble bridge has commenced! Very little to show, but still, there is some action happening. You can now see through the 1st floor from Little Lonsdale Street because of the new holes in the walls!

I DONT KNOW HOW THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOW NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO WALK AN EXTRA 200mtrs TO GET TO THE TRAIN BUT WE HAVE TO DODGE COLES RETAIL SHOPS 3 ESCALTORS INSTEAD OF 2 ITS BAD ENOUGH IN PEAK HOUR ALL IT DOES IS MAKE $$$$$$$$$$$ FOR THE SHOPS...

BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***********************************************

and now i cant slide down the ecalators...

if its like this when its all done something will have to be done!

^^ that was so 3 months ago.

time to let it go ;)

Message cancelled, membership voluntarily withdrawn.

Actually the reason you got cut off at the Little Lonsdale St doors is because they were pulling apart the old sky-bridge over Lt.Lonsdale..

So it might be BUBBLE TIME soon for the new-look sky-bridge - my long awaited favourite part of the redevelopment!

:banana:

Message cancelled, membership voluntarily withdrawn.

The bubble is indeed U/C - they are actually widening the overpasses in different directions.

i.e. The lower level is being widened to the west, the middle level is being widened to the east, the upper level currently remains the same.

So the net result - instead of 3 narrow levels stacked on top of each other, you now get 3 wide levels staggered in different directions, all encased in silver bubbles!

I love this part, but I must say I'm not too impressed with what's happened in the main cone area. They've totally covered the basement level so the grandeur of the huge circular space has been stunted ..

Also the new straight angles and closed in spaces are at odds with the original open airy design throughout.. but I'll reserve judgement till it's all finished.

The bridge is being widened to accomodate new retail space over the roadway.

It was confirmed in the Fin. Rev. on Thurs. 1/04/04 that Hoyts will close its 140 Bourke Street 4-screen complex to move into the 12-screen cineplex @ Melbourne Central on completion.

is 140B "The Cinema Centre" ??

I knew that a few months ago, but I was informed that I could not say a thing! But at least now we will have a brand new cinema complex in the CBD! About time I say! Now the only thing MC needs is a major like Freedom or K-Mart to join Coles and Hoyts.

Yay - a huge cinema complex will be open finally around the corner from me.

Nay - It will mean parking in front of my place will be a bastard from now on midweek evenings (for any visitors that come)

Yay - That might also mean more life at night midweek around my area

Nay - Hopefully without the sleazy Russell St element.

The de-construction of MC is in full swing now - I note they have ripped off the 'dome' thingy above the corner of Swanston & La-Trobe, as well as tearing up the front. And as mentioned the bubble bridge is now underway!

Also peeking into part of the south building of MC is like looking at something out of the Time Machine !! The whole guts are ripped apart and it all looks completely grey dust covered and destroyed - as if it's been left for thousands of years !!! Someone should get a photo while they can (he maybe I will)..

is 140B "The Cinema Centre" ??

Hoyts Cinema Centre
134-144 Bourke Street
Architect: Peter Muller
Construction: 1966-69

This Frank Lloyd Wright influenced building is the largest and most
elaborately detailed off-form concrete tower in the CBD.
Originally it only had three cinemas and ten floors of office space.
The outer concrete walls were painted over several years ago and
almost ruined the appearance of this great complex.
Does anyone know what will happen to it after the cinemas are closed down?

________________________________________________________________
'It is not the bulk of a fabric, the richness and
quantity of the materials, the multiplicity of lines,
nor the gaudiness of the finishing that gves grace or
beauty or grandeur to a building, but the proportion
of the parts to one another and to the whole, wether
entirely plain or enriched with a few ornaments
properly disposed.'
James Gibbs 1728 :cheers:

Does anyone know what will happen to it after the cinemas are closed down?The article just states the company Drapcac paid $14.4 mill. (gee, bargain!) for the building. It intends to upgrade the office space and to refurbish the retail area for new tenancies - yeah, squish 'em in there Drapac!!

It doesn't state what will happen to the actual space the cinemas occupy but you would think retail conversion....and the office upgrades would happen in stages depending on tenancy, council approval, heritage consulatation (if needed), contractor agreements yadda, yadda.

Knox Place is now open! Knox Place is the new laneway from Swanston St to Melbourne Central. Its an open air lane with nothing open as yet :(

Cinema centre brings $14.4m
Author: Karina Barrymore
Date: 01/04/2004
Words: 484
Source: AFRBreaking
Publication: Financial Review
Section: Property
Page: 48


Property syndicator and development company Drapac has bought a Melbourne CBD cinema and retail complex from well-known property investor Clement Lee.

Drapac has paid $14.4 million for the Hoyts Cinema Centre, offering Mr Lee and his fellow vendors a modest 15 per cent capital gain after eight years.

Drapac director Ashley Wain said yesterday the company planned a major refurbishment of the Bourke Street property.

The purchase includes a 13-storey brick building with 10 office levels, four cinemas, retail space and car parking. It also includes the well-known Shark Fin restaurant that fronts Little Bourke Street in Melbourne's China Town precinct.

Hoyts, which is the anchor tenant of the property, plans to relocate to the nearby Melbourne Central development, which is to b refurbished by General Property Trust in 2006.

Mr Wain said Drapac intended to upgrade the office space and to refurbish the retail area for several new tenancies.

On the latest sale price the purchase offers a short-term yield of 9 per cent, he said.

This compares with a 10 per cent yield offered to Mr Lee and a group of international investors when they purchased the property in 1996.

However, Mr Lee has had eight years of income from the property, which has almost fully reimbursed the $12 million outlay to buy the building eight years ago.

At the time, Mr Lee's off-market acquisition was considered "full price" because Hoyts had only offered a six-year leaseback.

Drapac, which was established by investor Michael Drapac, is a private investment and development company with about $140 million property assets owned or under management.

Late last year the company bought a Melbourne CBD fringe property, spending $17 million for the Elizabeth Street asset.

The 7200 square metre City Ford site, which has a lease until 2008, was bought from car manufacturer Nissan and is destined to be placed in an investment syndicate until its future redevelopment.

Drapac is also the developer of the $800 million Laurimar township in Plenty Valley, north of Melbourne and a 30 hectare residential development in Melton, west of Melbourne.

Drapac also recently sold a Melbourne CBD office building at 136 Exhibition Street to Brisbane syndicator Opus Capital Group for $16.3 million.

Mr Lee also recently sold another Melbourne CBD asset in Swanston Street for $21 million.

The Swanston Street property was bought by Sydney investor Mike Figg who promptly on-sold three retail spaces on the lower levels of the office building for $15.54 million.

Knox Place is now open! Knox Place is the new laneway from Swanston St to Melbourne Central. Its an open air lane with nothing open as yet :(

At least it's open....finally. Now, If you want to avoid the shops/bottleneck created by the stupid decision to close the old Swanston St entrance to Central, you can enter via Knox Place or the LaTrobe St entrances.

http://www.businessmelbourne.com.au/docs/active/doc1022.PPT <--5meg

Highlights:

http://metropolis.tayser.net/renderings/melbournecentral1.jpg

http://metropolis.tayser.net/renderings/melbournecentral2.jpg

http://metropolis.tayser.net/renderings/melbournecentral3.jpg

http://metropolis.tayser.net/renderings/melbournecentral4.jpg

there's heaps of detail in the 50 something slides, and it answers a lot of questions re: Train station access points.

Sensational renders tays! Great find! And what about the aerial shot :uh:
I haven't been to the MC area of the CBD for some time now (try nearly 3 years) so I must check it out some time.

They will be adding a new building on top of the MC on the Lonsdale building?

Thank God for those renders, because I was getting mighty worried this place was gonna be a disaster compared to QV!

Those renders provide me with some hope :)

MG2

thanks for ze pics
hehe notice the giant clock is still covered up in the 2nd pic

They will be adding a new building on top of the MC on the Lonsdale building?There has been approval to build up to approx. 80m for a couple of years. The developers are allowed to go ahead if the market requires it. No official announcements as yet on actual construction.

awesome pics, but why is the clock shown as still bundled/wrapped up?! it just goes to show how BIG a change the MC redevelopment will be - look at the corner of Swanston and Lonsdale pic - that's TOTALLY different to how it looks now!!!

tower crane is being assembled today (sunday) on La Trobe street

tower crane is being assembled today (sunday) on La Trobe street
Did they actually put it on the street? Because there isn't much room in the building!

I suppose I'll find out tomorrow morning!

Thanks for the update.

tower crane is being assembled today (sunday) on La Trobe street
Did they actually put it on the street? Because there isn't much room in the building!

I suppose I'll find out tomorrow morning!

Thanks for the update SMB!

Its in the building, about 2 or so metres in from the La Trobe Street facade.

If you haven't seen the Lonsdale Street building, you must! It looks amazing!!!!

Shameless bump.

Any news?

Sorry! The administrator has specified that users can only post one message every 45 seconds.
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~wadad/mypic139.jpg

The refurb to the tower forecourt is almost complete and has jazzed up the area in a big way. It's now becoming an attractive and vibrant place to be again after 18 months of mess. Give this project a chance.

The MC Tower forecourt I agree isn't too bad considering limited options to work with - I like the new 'Chilipad' restuarant thats wedged between the Tower podium & main MC building..

BUT I'm still horrified by what they've done under the cone - covering the basement level with a roof and repositioning the escalators has *totally* destroyed the sense of grandeur and massive space that was inside that area .. it now feels all close in and clausterphobic..

But back on the +ve side I'm amazed how they've transformed the Lonsdale St side of the complex into something that is completely unrecognisable from what was there before..

So jury still way out but it's gonna take a *lot* (including my bubble bridge to work out ok) to make up for the disaster under the cone..

I agree that raising the floor level around the cone was a big mistake. I still remember the sense of awe I had when I walked under the cone for the first time the day Melbourne Central opened. That was the best feature of the whole development and it is that bit less awe inspiring :-( Also it means that the ground floor of the shot tower looks like it is underground which is disrespectful in my opinion.

Also the only good thing about the Latrobe frontage was the inverted glass cone cut out of the side of the building. It looked great and matched the cone so why get rid of the only good feature and replace it with a blank wall?

i will never forgive them for moving those old escaltors they should of made the new entrance more of a feature

The MC Tower forecourt I agree isn't too bad considering limited options to work with - I like the new 'Chilipad' restuarant thats wedged between the Tower podium & main MC building..

BUT I'm still horrified by what they've done under the cone - covering the basement level with a roof and repositioning the escalators has *totally* destroyed the sense of grandeur and massive space that was inside that area .. it now feels all close in and clausterphobic..

But back on the +ve side I'm amazed how they've transformed the Lonsdale St side of the complex into something that is completely unrecognisable from what was there before..

So jury still way out but it's gonna take a *lot* (including my bubble bridge to work out ok) to make up for the disaster under the cone..

I have to agree that MC has lost a lot of its unique appeal.
It is now just like any mediocre suburban shopping ma IMHO QV shits all over it.

The MC Tower forecourt I agree isn't too bad considering limited options to work with - I like the new 'Chilipad' restuarant thats wedged between the Tower podium & main MC building..

BUT I'm still horrified by what they've done under the cone - covering the basement level with a roof and repositioning the escalators has *totally* destroyed the sense of grandeur and massive space that was inside that area .. it now feels all close in and clausterphobic..

But back on the +ve side I'm amazed how they've transformed the Lonsdale St side of the complex into something that is completely unrecognisable from what was there before..

So jury still way out but it's gonna take a *lot* (including my bubble bridge to work out ok) to make up for the disaster under the cone..
Agree with you and Grollo on that - the sense of awe, taking the tourists through that, and looking up - that's all history now. It's not like they didn't have enough floor space - now they don't even get the natural light in the levels below. Is this akin to demolishing the Capitol Theatre to put in a crappy shopping arcade in the 70s? So the laneway concept doesn't ALWAYS work. How are they going to spruce up the Latrobe St entrance? I understand that they're opening up the cinemas out onto the street - but what about that boring blank facade, like Grollo says?

2 questions:
1. Is the bubble bridge happening?
2. Any pics of the Elizabeth St tower podium?

See page 3 of this thread for renderings. It's not going to be a blank wall but I still think they should have incorporated the glass feature into the new design.

Here is what it used to look like:
http://digital-melbourne.tripod.com/Digital-Melbourne16.jpg

Go here to see what under the dome used ot look like:

http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~bernardk/victoria/virtual/vr/melb_central.html

They have only extended the Swanston Street level to almost meet the groudn level of the Shot Tower.

I think you still get an amazing feeling when you enter the space from ground level and you get an even better feeling of the size of the cone when you accend the escalaters from the Little Lonsdale Street level. It is sheer amazing and a hell of a lot more imposing coming upt he escalators then just walking like you did before.

Menzies Place & Lane

http://img55.exs.cx/img55/808/MC1.jpg

http://img55.exs.cx/img55/9094/MC2.jpg

haven't noticed much different from before the refurb started really, though haven't been there much to get a real feel, to notice the changes

History Lesson

http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/MuseumStation.jpg
Aerial of the old Museum Station at the corner of Swanston and Latrobe Streets before demolition and name change.

http://www.thecollectormm.com/gallery/postcards/1920s-1980s/slides/MelbCentral1.jpg
Melbourne Central in all its past glory.

http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/MelbCentral1.jpg
The Dome, The Cone and The Crystal.
The Dome has now been removed. :(

Personally I think they've fucked the whole thing up. Ruined the base of the office tower completely.
I really think that space under there that the have filled in with that marble shit was supposed to be open. It really made the tower seem bigger imo.

And yeah they fucked up the shot tower floor aswell. And the colours are shit.
The paths through the thing are definately improved but I really hate them for ruining the area around the shot & office towers.
Dammit.

[QUOTE=uewepuep]Personally I think they've fucked the whole thing up. Ruined the base of the office tower completely.
I really think that space under there that the have filled in with that marble shit was supposed to be open. It really made the tower seem bigger imo.

And yeah they fucked up the shot tower floor aswell. And the colours are shit.
The paths through the thing are definately improved but I really hate them for ruining the area around the shot & office towers.

Im with you UE they have really fucked up a great space I used to love that area now its not much better than your common garden variety shopping mall in the burbs.
Hopefully most of the shops that have been forced on to comuters go broke from the competition at QV across the road.

I think the redevelopment of the shopping centre is grea, but I think they have stuffed up the base of the tower. I think they should have left it open to teh street as it was before. I think the new building on the corner Little Lonsdale St & Elizabeth St is great, but not for that site. And the white marble building at the northern end is also great, but again, not for that site. :(

I'm also pissed off that the pocket watch isn't going to be used anymore. The raising of the ground floor has made it impossable to safely lower the insides of it with the Waltzing Matilda theme. How sad. It's chain is also gone.

Melbourne Central is sterile and morbid now. Sure it was a very late 1980's convention, but I think it was the wrong way to improve it.

Why change something that doesn't need fixing.

It always has been sterile and boring - it's just sterile and boring with a little more colour nowadays. But it does [still] need fixing: La Trobe street for instance, it's like walking past Fountain Gate out here in burbs, completely inwards looking and anti-street.

I won't shed a tear now that the clock has gone! in actual fact, Melbourne Central's much like an indoors Darling Harbour: gimmicky, nasty, a tourist trap and did I mention sooo so so eighties?

in that respect, maybe it's good that it still fits that above profile - leaves the rest of the city and QV for us ;)

there's no Gap man!

$0.02

agree, they've stuffed up the shot tower base.
since when did the clock go?! noooooooooo!!!!!!!
the dome was the biggest lode of crap - it wasn't even a dome - but once, for the melb festival or moomba, can't remember which, they lit up the base of it in different colours and it looked really schmick - but at all other times it just looked like the budget ran out! hehehe
tays, i'm sure they'll open up latrobe st when the cinemas open...that'll give it some life, i hope. latrobe's a funny st - it's has good mid-size babyscrapers, some nice postmodern stuff incl MC Tower, and katsalidis babies, and now concept blue (which I think is crap IMHO), but despite the institutions that line the street like SLV, Royal Mint, Flagstaff, RMIT, etc etc, it just has the "back door" feel - never quite the "main street" feel...

The middle and top floor of the Lonsdale Street building is open and more and more stores too. I think I prefer MC to QV.

You can also now see how big the corner of Swanston & La Trobe Sts will be. The steel framing is up and gives you a good idea of the location of the cinemas!

Is it looking good inside? I know it used to be a bit of a maze...
stu

yes it was a maze but it still feels like it is to me. i have a great sence of direction if i may say so but i dunno...maybe i was in too much of a hurry.

I walked through MC to get to the station and what a shit of place it has now turned out to be I found the platforms more interesting that the bland collection of shops you are now forced to go past to get to the trains.The whole place seems to have been downsized and now lacks the original atmosphere that made it a good place to visit.

I disagree. I thinkt he stores are amazing and the layout is now more like a grid. Its easier to get around and you can see in the distance where you are going. You need to also remember, that 80% of the lower level was never open to the public, so that is a great improvement, let alone the wonderful transformation of the concourse area into a real transport hub!

I disagree. I thinkt he stores are amazing and the layout is now more like a grid. Its easier to get around and you can see in the distance where you are going. You need to also remember, that 80% of the lower level was never open to the public, so that is a great improvement, let alone the wonderful transformation of the concourse area into a real transport hub!
Are we both talking about the same place?
Its nothing like the original that at least had some sort of style about it, now its just a place to hurry through to the way to the station(if you can find the way!).
QV kills it in every way.

the level from the station felt very much like a suburban mall is the shopping centre open 24 hours because there didn't seem to be a way out of the train station without going through the shopping centre

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/22/1093113053440.html

Good news, shopaholics
By Leonie Wood
August 23, 2004

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/08/22/melbourne_central_wideweb__430x240.jpg

Shoppers in the partly finished centre.
Picture:Dominic O'Brien

Shoppers still have to make way for workmen in hard hats at Melbourne Central, and the sounds of jackhammers, drills and ladders dragging on unfinished concrete permeates even the most stylish reaches of the retail complex's mini precincts.

But Melbourne Central, which forms a crucial retail anchor to the north of the central business district, is already drawing thousands of people to its newly reopened stores even though its $245 million redevelopment is only 60 per cent completed.

There has been little, if any, marketing of the centre's staged reopening yet.

The first curious shoppers have been workers from the adjacent office tower on Elizabeth Street, students from nearby RMIT University and commuters whose access to underground trains is via the shopping centre's lower-level food court.

By late October, and in time for the peak Christmas trading period, the centre is due to be fully opened, providing a wide thoroughfare of shops that extends south from La Trobe Street to the doors of Myer department store on Lonsdale Street.

It will be the third big retail development to open in central Melbourne in the past year, following Grocon's $600 million QV retail and office complex on the Swanston-Lonsdale Street corner and the $95 million GPO development by Morry Schwartz and Adam Garrison that will have four levels of upmarket fashion and dining.

The centre is opening just as retailers across the sector report some of the best trading conditions in decades, with customers splurging on designer fashion and accessories, feel-good soaps and aromatics, plasma-screen TVs and DVD recorders.

I wonder how much the developers paid our intrepid reporter for this piece of blatant PR trash journalism.
My god the Age's standards have slipped further than I thought.This bit of tripe wouldnt go astray in the HUN or your local throw away rag.
The time Ive been I havent see people rushng to shop there,they are more intent on rushing past to get out of the rat run.

Lol

Here is a photo taken last weekend:D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/P9120003.jpg

Woah, thanks for the peek. Interesting paint scheme going on.... looks like a bunch of barcodes to me.
stu

Was in Melbourne Central today.

Coles Express (opposite Brumbies Bakery/Train Stn Barriers) is open. Bigger than the one on Elizabeth St, but smaller than the Woollies in QV. Still, better than nothing.

Borders Books, on the same level as BaySwiss and the new shot tower foyer, looks very advanced and will probably open within the fortnight.

The MC Annex (connected by the famous bubble bridge) is very close to being finished, and looked to have a full complement of tennants. The Annex first floor is chick oriented fashion, the top floor more blokey.

All in all, bar the cinema complex, I'd say she's about done.....give it a fortnight, month at the outside.

There is still plenty of work to be done ont he La Trobe Street building. Levels 3 - 6 have had little or no work done to them. I think more like early to mid 2005 before we see Freedom and the upper levels open. Pitty there isn't a major in this complex. We need a K-Mart in the CBD, since we alreayd have a Target and Big W.

http://img62.exs.cx/img62/5809/Mvc-018f.jpg

/delurk

Another render of the Swanston/Latrobe corner - the "box flaps" are a bit different from the pic in the Business Melbourne PPT:

http://img88.exs.cx/img88/9953/mcrender.jpg

Image source here: www.a-r-m.com.au/media/ARM%20CV_commercial.pdf (3M) - there's also some renders of Digital Harbour, a couple of Collins St projects and some interstate stuff.
.

mugley, the facade of MC has changed since that last render was done. The flaps have been reduced in size and the whole facade treatment curtailed down a little.

hi all as far as I can gather, the 'islamic' facade is still going ahead...am i right? the render looks crazy, i like it! real cutting edge stuff, truly melbourne (then again it will probably date in around 5 years!)

btw this is my first post, seems a nice site

nickid, what you call the "islamic" facade has been completed on Elizabeth St corner Little Lonsdale Street. As far as I know, there will be no more of that type of treatment any where else in the project.

Here is a before pic just to jog people's memories of the old MC

http://www.gpt.com.au/gpt/main.nsf/images/asset_retail_melbourne.jpg/$file/asset_retail_melbourne.jpg

does anybody have a picture of it? I should come down to melbourne more often perhaps :)

Elizabeth St, corner Little Lonsdale Street
http://www.melbournecentraltower.com.au/Images/Images_file/PublicWelcome-MCproject-pic1.jpg

Elizabeth St corner La Trobe Street
http://www.melbournecentraltower.com.au/MC_Project/Images/ScreenLayout/welcomePic_4.jpg

Elizabeth Street entrance
http://www.melbournecentraltower.com.au/MC_Project/Images/ScreenLayout/welcomePic_5.jpg

Pic 1 is accurate
Pic 2 is a fantasy - real life looks OK but nothiing like this
Pic 3 bears some resemblence to real life

I reckon it's better than it was, just, as with most things other than Eureka, not built to the specs as pictured.

Just found these pics of 300 Lonsdale Street!

Lonsdale Street Foyer
http://img20.exs.cx/img20/8868/300LonsdaleStFoyer.jpg

View from Swanston St
http://img20.exs.cx/img20/8540/300LonsdaleStfromSwanstonSt.jpg

View from Lonsdale Street
http://img20.exs.cx/img20/4506/300LonsdaleSt.jpg

Section
http://img20.exs.cx/img20/2383/MCSection.jpg

I was waiting for someone to post those (I was too lazy myself to get them off the PDF heheh :-)

Looks awesome, hopefully they will find a tenant.

Elizabeth Street entrance
http://www.melbournecentraltower.com.au/MC_Project/Images/ScreenLayout/welcomePic_5.jpg

Is that PID for the railway station really there? Would be handy if it was.

Looks good, but how do they build it over the new mall theyve just completed. Have they build in the infrastructure already?

I was correct about Borders......Grand Opening on Oct 1st at 0930.

About time too, I love Borders Chapel St!

i seriously don't think that melb central office building is going to happen - the market's just too tight without a precommitment - what are the chances that this will go up?

I'll be there at Border's to witness the opening. It'll have a Gloria Jeans Cafe instead of the inhouse version. I used to like the bottomless coffee cups you could get there when I had time on my hands.